Japanese company interested in building a space elevator

After an abundance of optimism last decade about the feasibility of building a space elevator, literally an elevator to lift cargo into orbit, enthusiasm for the idea has fizzled. LiftPort Inc., for example, failed.

Their goal remains the same: build thin tether from the ground to orbit that would hoist cargo into space and bypass immensely costly rocket launches. The construction and safety challenges, of course, are immense when it comes to space elevators.

Cool idea. But is it practical? (High Lift Systems).

The challenges have not deterred everyone, however.

Earlier this week Obayashi Corp., a Tokyo-based construction company, unveiled a project to build a gigantic elevator that would transport passengers to a station 22,000 miles above the Earth.

At that elevation a terminal station would be built that would house laboratories and living space. In their proposal a car could carry up to 30 people and would travel at 125 mph, making the trip up slightly longer than one week.

That’s a long elevator ride, to be sure.

As crazy as this sounds, if the company really does complete this project by 2050 I’d be in line for a ride up.